components aren't super different, everything else definitely is tho, increased mud clearance, slacker geo i believe, stronger for taking a beating, cables routed on top of the top tube for being slung over the shoulder, xc pedals instead of road pedals, so no biketrials they are not road bikes and quite far from.

I've been told that the perfect number of bikes boils down to a formula: (a+1)+(b-1)=x where (a) is the number of bikes you currently own (don't we all want one more?) and (b) is the number of bikes at which point your significant other will leave you (better stay below that threshold). Which makes (x) the ideal number.

I have a mountain bike for fun and road bike so I can enjoy all that "responsible" stuff people have to do - cardio, commuting, etc... having a road bike has also improved my mountain biking experience surprisingly.